Type I CD36 deficiency in hematologic disorder.

We report a 64 year old man with type I CD36 deficiency. He diagnosed as having diffuse large B cell nonHodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and treated with chemotherapy and radiation. He had no history of previous blood transfusions. His electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram were almost normal. However, I-βmethyl-iodophenyl pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) cardiac scintigraphy showed complete absence of BMIPP accumulation in the heart (Figure 1). Flow cytometry analysis revealed absence of CD36 on the monocytes and platelets (Figure 2), suggesting the diagnosis of type I CD36 deficiency, as well as NHL. In patients with type I CD36 deficiency, immunization with CD36 antigen by transfusion, could produce anti-CD36 antibody, and potentially lead to platelet transfusion refractoriness or posttansfusion purpura. When transfusion lead to platelet transfusion refractoriness or posttansfusion purpura, we must take Type I CD36 deficiency into consideration.